The First Word
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OCTOBER 2020 The First Word LETALLTHATYOUDOBEDONEINLOVE I CORINTHIANS 16:14 In This Issue: Page 2-3: Pastor Joel’s message Page 4: Council News Page 5: Stewardship Page 6: Scandinavian Dinner Page 7: Financial Focus Page 8: Faith, Fellowship & Fun Page 9: Weekly Worship Schedule Page 10: Shoe Drive Page 11: Youth Message Page 12-13: Youth Ministries Page 14: Lighting Project Page 15: Women of First Lutheran Page 16: Love of the Altar Page 16: Music Ministries Page 17-18: Lectionary Readings Page 18: Notes & Media Statistics Page 19: Small Groups & Studies Page 20: Small Group Page 20: Confirmation Day & Work Day Page 21: First Foodies Page 22: An Evangelical Minute Page 23: Social Media & Day 1 Page 24: ELCA & Staff Page 25: Prayers of Caring Page 26: September Birthdays & Anniversaries Page 27: Calendar First Lutheran Church Hayward, Wisconsin From the Pastor's Desk Back To Basics I was privileged enough to have access to the old Metrodome before a Twins game with the Athletics. At the time, one of these two teams had represented the American League in the previous five World Series. There was a ton of baseball talent on the field. There is much that is unseen on TV, and even in the stands, that one gets to experience at the field level. Imagine my surprise when I saw a batting tee! In a dirt floor area under the stands, normally hidden behind padding, was a tee! I started out, like everyone in baseball, with tee-ball. At the tee was the best hitter in the American League, and working with him was one of my favorite Twins players from my childhood, Tony Oliva. The best hitter in baseball was playing tee-ball with the best hitter in the 1960s! It would be like seeing the Pope singing Jesus Loves Me. It would be like Pavarotti singing Do-Re-Mi. I had created a logical disconnect between greatness and basics such that I could not imagine highly accomplished people doing basic activities. On the field, the Twins had called up a much anticipated new pitcher. Tom Kelly was drilling him relentlessly on covering first base on a grounder to the right side. Over and over again, they were fine-tuning his footwork in one of the most basic infield plays there is. And I mean over and over again. What about firing fastballs and mowing down hitters? It struck me as surprising that athletes at the top of their game were fine-tuning their otherworldly skills with basics. The player I watched at the tee was working on keeping his front shoulder in, a hitting fundamental. I pictured state-of-the-art computers tied to ultra-expensive digital cameras micro- analyzing everything. Instead, I saw a coach, a batter, a ball, a tee – and a ton of sheer repetition. My uncle, who coached many sports and was a college athletic director, said, “Practice does not make perfect! Practice makes permanent. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” Only perfect practice makes perfect. It is probably true: when I sense my bowling game going the wrong direction, I have a muscle memory drill that I do to bring back my timing, and it is so simple even a child can do it. 2 It is interesting how many revival movements in churches, or anything for that matter, have as their core a back to basics. Family counselors encourage families to start eating dinner together. Marriage counselors encourage couples to go for walks and talk with each other. No matter how many diet books there are and health programs with impossibly healthy and bouncy people leading them, the message is to eat smart and be active. Have you ever noticed that law is so complicated that it takes specially qualified people with expensive degrees to walk us through it, yet the Ten Commandments are so easy even a child can understand them? No matter how thick the theology book is and how curmudgeonly and obtuse the old German who wrote it, its ending message is God is love. No matter how dynamic and trendy the Christian speaker, no matter how much the ticket costs for the rally at the stadium, the message at its core is Jesus loves you. I am convinced more and more that the people who try and make life seem scary and complicated merely do so in order to have power over me. I think that is how cult leaders have their power – make people scared and assure them that as long as they are with you, they have nothing to fear. Tell them life is hopelessly complicated and assure them that you hold the answers. Life at times can seem terribly complex, but that does not mean the solution is. The complexity of the immense problem of Goliath David rationally reduced to its smaller parts and dealt with them in a logical order. It could be the solution to what plagues us right now is simply to have faith, forgive, be polite, and do good – much like we were taught when we were younger. Pastor Joel 3 Council Notes SEPTEMBER 2020 The council met Monday Sept 14th. The usual committee reports were reviewed and accepted. This included the financial report which indicated that our giving toward our regular budget through August is down $8960 from the same period in 2019. We feel that is really quite good news since we have not had “normal” worship for 6 months of the year. Thanks to all of you for your continued support through this very different time. Since we have not been using the building in the normal fashion some expenses such as utility costs are also less than last years. Staff and committees reported on plans for return to inside worship and faith formation programing. It will be up to all of us to adapt to the new protocols as we move forward. We feel that we can do this safely if we use common sense and consideration for the well being of our fellow worshipers. Per the approval to move ahead with the lighting project at our special congregational meeting the council authorized the lighting task force to spend $735 to purchase the materials required to fabricate and install the 6 wood light valences which will be installed between the laminated roof arches in the sanctuary. Volunteers will provide the labor. Bruce Schmidt, Council President First Lutheran Face coverings were ordered. Delivery should be around mid-October. Support First Lutheran and purchase one with a freewill donation. Any profit received will go toward the completion of our Mission Statement art work in the Narthex. 4 Stewardship Message OCTOBER 2020 “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Giving can take many forms. Giving is all around us; we just need to focus a little more to see it. While standing in a long line to buy sweet corn from "Barronette Bob" and confirming that when it comes to corn, we are certainly 'Bob Snobs,' an interesting, giving moment took place. We arrive at the point of sale; a precious older woman asks for a half dozen ears already shucked. The vendor painfully told the woman that they could not take the time to shuck the corn. The men in front and next to us in line told her to bring the half dozen to his pickup truck, and he would shuck and rebag them for her. She profusely thanked him and related that she was not strong enough anymore to do the job. To further promote this simple act of giving, Bob's corn vendor did not charge her for the corn. Anyone within earshot of this exchange was smiling. Surely it spread this act of kindness around as I am doing now. God loves it when we justify our faith in Him and "make a life by giving." Stewardship Committee Jeff Hubbard Bruce Schmidt Carol Knudson Ron Kirchdoerfer Pastor Joel Bacon 5 Scandinavian Dinner Friday, November 6th Takeout Meal & Bake Sale Though the traditional fellowship and meal of our Scandinavian Dinner cannot happen this year, First Lutheran WILL host a "takeout" version of the evening. Watch the announcements for more information soon. Contact Linda Gordon or Kris Neumann to volunteer or with questions. 6 This area intentionally left blank. FOR SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS i.e. World Hunger, Lutheran World Relief, Malawi, ELCA Disaster Relief, etc., make the checks to "First Lutheran Church" with a memo notation of what they are intended for. Please do not include these gifts in the same check with your regular Sunday offering. All financial records are kept in the strictest confidence at the church office. Gifts to Habitat for Humanity and the Hayward Food Shelf should be sent directly to these organizations as these funds are not recorded on our financial records. The church office will assist in sending these gifts to the appropriate organizations. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFUL GIVING TO THE LORD’S WORK THROUGH FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH Jeannette Siemers Business Manager 7 FAITH, FELLOWSHIP & FUN Bike/Hike/Ski Club THEOLOGY ON TAP Hiking Season has begun! Let's meet at Tuesday, October 13th @ 7pm Hatchery Creek Park every Monday at Where: Comfort of your home - via Zoom: 6pm to enjoy the fall colors, enjoy https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85951980861? conversations, and hike the beautiful pwd=ZElEZDM0VyttaGVGdWZrUmc0cVI0d land! All are invited! z09 Please sign-up by calling the church Topic: potluck? tbd office or stopping by. Grab a favorite drink, your computer/tablet/phone and join a great ***watch for time/location conversation.